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Sweet security: four Internet security suites compared |
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 Robert Vamosi Senior editor |
Updated May 1, 2006 Without a corporate IT staff or gateway antivirus and firewall solutions, small businesses and home desktop users need some kind of protection from hackers and other Internet security threats. These Internet security suites bundle everything you need, from antivirus protection to firewall blocking to Internet privacy, in one box. Plus, they offer additional privacy protection, such as blocking objectionable Web sites, spam, and spyware--all in one convenient package. This year, we recommend ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 6 over similar collections from Norton and McAfee. While we like individual features of Norton Internet Security 2006 and McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006, both of these bundles noticeably slowed our test machines. CA eTrust Internet Security Suite R2 performed better, but we don't feel it is well integrated as a suite. ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 6, on the other hand, offers the most complete Internet security for your PC without affecting its performance. More resources
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| Remove from list | Remove from list | Remove from list | Remove from list | |
| Product name |
Norton Internet Security 2006 |
McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006 |
ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 6 |
CA eTrust Internet Security Suite R2 |
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| Review date | November 1, 2005 | November 2, 2005 | July 22, 2005 | April 26, 2006 |
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Editors' rating (Editors' rating explained) |
6.0
Good |
6.3
Good |
8.0
Excellent |
6.7
Good |
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| Review summary | Norton Internet Security 2006 is a solid security suite, but it bogs down PC performance. Though it's a reasonable upgrade for entrenched Norton fans, it offers users less bang for the buck than ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 6. | McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006 packs a powerful protection arsenal--but it's far too slow. Loyal McAfee users should upgrade for the automatic spyware and phishing blockers, but the rest of us should seek security elsewhere, such as ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 6. | ZoneAlarm Security Suite puts Norton and McAfee to shame with its easy-to-use triple-layer firewall, antivirus, antispam, and now antispyware features. | CA eTrust Internet Security Suite R2 may be packed with more PC protection tools than McAfee or Norton, and its revamped interface is easy to use, but its tech support is substandard for a major security vendor. |
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| Product series | N/A | N/A | See all products in this series | N/A |
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| User comments | 3.6 Poor (from 91 users) | 3.5 Poor (from 35 users) | 5.9 Average (from 109 users) | 4.5 Mediocre (from 15 users) |
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| Category | Info unavailable | Security applications | Security applications | Internet |
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| Subcategory | Info unavailable | Security - security suite | Security - security suite | Internet - internet security |
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| Version | Info unavailable | 8.0 | 6.0 | Info unavailable |
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| License Type | Info unavailable | Complete package | Complete package | Complete package |
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| Package Type | Info unavailable | Retail | Retail | Retail |
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| OS Required | Info unavailable | Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition , Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition , Microsoft Windows 2000 , Microsoft Windows XP Professional , Microsoft Windows 98 | Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition , Microsoft Windows XP , Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition , Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional | Info unavailable |
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| Service & Support | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | New releases update | Info unavailable |
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| Product name | Norton Internet Security 2006 | McAfee Internet Security Suite 2006 | ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 6 | CA eTrust Internet Security Suite R2 |
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| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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| Price range | Email me when this product is available | Email me when this product is available | Email me when this product is available | Email me when this product is available |
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